This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Author: Samuel Alexander, Research fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne and Brendan Gleeson, Director, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne. Suburban affluence is the defining image of the good life under capitalism, commonly held up as a model to which all humanity should...
In some parts of the world, electric or gas furnaces aren’t always an option for keeping your home warm. Wood and pellet stoves have been used for years, but with many consumers becoming concerned about their carbon footprint, they are turning away from some of them. Can woodburning stoves be eco-friendly? Woodburning Stoves Human beings...
According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, each year roughly one-third of food produced globally for human consumption is either lost or wasted. It finds its way into landfills, oceans, and incinerators, creating a negative impact on the ecosystem. In fact, globally, landfills are the third largest source of methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is 30...
Not many entrepreneurs would cite a three-month volunteer trip in Africa as the major influence for their business, but then few are quite like Lauren Shuttleworth, the founder of eco-friendly print and stationery social enterprise Words With Heart. Volunteering at a school in Kenya, Shuttleworth quickly realised the enormous challenges facing girls in trying to...
Searching for an affordable ethical Christmas gift set to give your family and friends this Christmas? Look no further than GlobeIn, a leading US subscription box company that offers handmade and ethically sourced artisan goods from remote regions around the world. It is also the only subscription box company to receive the official Fairtrade stamp...
With Christmas literally around the corner, it’s peak panic time for people to buy shoddy presents that will inevitably be thrown out by February. There are endless lists of ‘conscious’ gifts out there, but have you considered buying an experience with purpose for your loved one? Experience gifts can be life-changing, educational or just plain fun...
Keen to give thoughtful Christmas gifts that help to empower small-scale farmers and workers in the developing world and give them more control over their future? Consider giving a Fairtrade gift. Fair trade is all about negotiating better prices, providing decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers giving them a more...
Editor’s note: This Plastic-Free Christmas Guide is published as a two-part series. We recommend you read Part I for ideas on hosting a plastic-free party and plastic-free Xmas decorating. Plastic-Free Gifts Packaging. It’s the hardest thing to avoid when going plastic-free and one of the most ubiquitous forms of single use plastic. Most major companies ship...
The holiday season, it’s practically unavoidable. No matter your creed, you’re probably going to be making merry, going to or hosting a party, and giving gifts — especially if you’re in the US where Christmas and the shopping frenzy that precedes it are a way of life, as I recently wrote. So, can you have...
When you’re concerned about the environment, it can be difficult to justify buying more things at a time of Peak Stuff and climate change, but it can be just as difficult attending a birthday party, celebrating Christmas or a special occasion without bringing a gift(s)*can be totally awkward*. This is why we’ve curated this list of...
I’ll give you five dollars* if you can think of a male eco lifestyle blogger or eco fashion influencer within 10 seconds. Go. Oh, what’s that? Did you fail? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. I’m still thinking of who else I can put on the list and it’s been hours. Men are scarce...
A simple switch from conventional cleaning products to green alternatives can benefit both the environment and your well-being. Companies don’t make a point to advertise this fact, but the traditional cleaning solutions we use every day contain toxins with the potential to irritate and even harm our bodies. Phthalates in dish soap, triclosan in detergents...